Spiral conveyer.



MGRRIS STATES PATENT v'-OFFFCE coMrANY, or OAKLEY, CINQINNATI. 20H19,- A coaroserron QF omo.`

errant contrastan.

Speeication of Letters Patent. i I d Pz,ultimate(i 18, V191 Continuation in part ofl application Serial No. 696,918, ld May.1 3,1912. 'This application led'V January 27,

v A 1915. SerialjNoAS. l

To all whom t may concern: i

- Be it known that I, MORRIS a citizen of the United States, residing Aat Cincinnati, in the county ofvHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spiral Con-v veyers, of which the followingV is a speciication. n

VT his invention relates to spiral conveyers of the type embodied in my application Serial No. 696,918 which matured into Patent No. 1,129,781 granted Jan.` 27, 1915, the present application beingv a continuation` in part ofthe aforesaid application No. 698,918 differing therefrom only inthe inclusion of a certain locking mechanism `hereinafter de- In the type of conveyers referred to there are three ways extending spirally around an internal column or.,othersuitable sup porting member. Two of these ways (hereinafter designated first spiral and second spiralrespectively) are arrangedv aty one side ofwhat is arbitrarily termed a junc-l tion place and the other way (hereinafter termed third spiralv) `is arranged at the other side of said junction place and at the junction there Vis an opening and a pivotally adjustable member'A adapted tobridge the opening and whose position controls come' munication of the third spiral with' either y of the other spirals, atjwill. j

The particular form constituting the present invention includes as one of `its most important features a correlation of parts such that the `bridging member moves in an upward or downward direction in its adjustments between the f first rand l second spirals. More particularly, one of the most important features of the present embodi. ment is acorr'elation fof spirals such that the terminals'of'the first and second spirals vadjacent to the bridging member are a1'.-l

rangedgin different horizontal planesfand are ,separated .fromy the vend ofthe .third spiral by lspaces which are valternately opened and closed by abridging member arranged 'to yhave risingand falling movement lpivotally, there being no connection over which the packages pass from the third spiral toeither of the other spirals except such` as is afforded by the adjustable bridg- U. BERNHEIM,

posed of relatively adjustable sections, one

U, BERNHEIM, or '.CI'NCINNATI, onto, nssrenon To THE `AnvEY-iannernson,

ofwhich permanentlyconnects the third spiral with one of the 'other spirals and the other ofpwhich (the adjustable section.) is

arranged to temporarily, 4so to speak, con' neet tlie lthird spiral fwith the remaining spiral.- I f 1 y The features hereinbefore referred to aref preferably embodied :inra spiral conveyer whose third spiral is arranged.inj a'di-fferent vertical plane from that-.of the `first vandv second spirals andV this preferred embodiment of the invention; is hereinillustrated.

I' have also illustratedand will hereinafter i describe in, detail :auneansxbv which the bridging member may be adjusted from anyone of several oors from which packe 1 ages may be vplaced upon the vthird spiral, the said means being combined withland automatically controllingthe operation of a ylocking' mechanism kwhich isl arranged to h old the bridging member` 'against displacement from its upper position when a pack,- age is passingthereoverfrom the third spil-alto the upper/,one of thexremaining spirals.

'1A `conveyerembodying'the correlation of parts hereinbeforejset forth is herein exemplifiedA but it willy be understood that thel particular .embodiment'sliown is merely in-A tended to be exemplary and that other specifically different embodimentsthereof fall withinrthe spirit of thefinvention and the scope' of. the .subjoinedclaims.

are detailrepresentations 5 l yIn the accompanying drawings, wherein particularly',intended to show the locking Y mechanismV for the bridging` member including `themeans by' which thelocking mechanism is released fromsaid'niember;`

Fig 2 beinga section on theline 2&2 of Fig. 3 and Figs. 3-jand4 sli/owingl partly in Vsection-and'partly in elevation the position of the 'parts when the bridging memberis in raised and lowered positions, respectively.

ieegembel itself, thejlettei beine adjust: .11n ,the zpartieularirm; of animaties herein rexempliied the internal sumiorting member is composed of two sections, marked A20 and, A21 respectively. These wsections are offset from eachother. .Around the secf tion A20 the first spiral, marked B20, and the second spiral, marked C20, extend,the said spirals having their u per terminals Z220 and 020 in dierent horizontal planes as shown'. The third spiral, D20, extends around.I thez section A21.. of theinternal supporting member, and its lower terminal, d20, is spaced from the upper terminals of the other spirals. In this space is mounted the pivotally supported bridging member, E20. Injtlie hereinexemplified form ofthe inventione'ach spiral B20, C20 and D20 is a smooth blade but it will be understood that they may be of any constructionadapted to cause packages to travel thereoverx kin a spiral path by gravity. The bridging member should be of a type analogous to that of the remainingparts ofthe waysand acc ordi-ngly is here shown Vas having a smooth surface-that is, free from rollers. Itis curved and pitched, corresponding with the curvature and pitch ofthe spirals.A y

W'hen the spiral D20- is in a different verticalVv planev fromv that of the spirals B20,

20-as shown in the herein exemplified form of thel invention-it is preferred to -pivot t'he'upperend of .the bridging member E20 in proximity to the end of the spiral'D20, as shown at 20, its other end being-free to swing'from the spiral B20fto the spiral C203as shown by the full and dotted lines respectively.

Itwill3 bev understood that in practice the spiral D20 may be of' any suitable lengthso as to serve different floors and also that the the internal supporting member sufficiently to receive the spirals and hav-ing itsinner l wall adjacent to the edges of the spirals.

The feed and discharge openings are providedv in' practice with suitable-doors. Itis not considered'to be necessary morepartlicularlyj to show or to describe the casing herein, as spiral conveyers haveV hitherto-been provided with such casings and, moreover, the casing is not anessential element ofthe structure. Thecasing herein shown has an offset partito adapt itto the offset'arrangement of thel spirals and internal supporting member. f y Y 'A Aconveyer''embodying the present improvements` will befound to be useful in many' cases.; The ways or spirals B20 and C50.- inay be' employed, respectively toi; carry packages int'en'dedi'-tol be discharged at different places, or packagesfoidiferent characters, receiving said packages from the spiral D20, common to. all such packages.

It isdesirable tok provide means whereby the adjustable bridging member E20 may be adjustedllfrom any of the floors which are served by the spiral D20. Any suitable means Ymay be employed. The one illustrated comprises an endless cable whose runs or strands'are designated'and 57, respectively'. This cable extends throughout the length of the spiral D20 and also to, a place suitably below the lower terminal ofr the latter. lts upper enel extends over a ysuitably supported pulley 58', andi its lower end under a suitably' supported'pulley 59. ylll-'ie cable may be operatedv from any of' the floors served by the yspiral Dfland itslstrands 56 'and lprefera'bly have on each floor buttons marked 60 and 6l respectively, or other suitable means, for convenience inoperating them.K Obviously, the position of the buttons willv indicate the position of the bridging member. A suitable means, indicated at 62, for maintaining tension on the cable, or for tal'ring up slack therein, willv preferablypbe. employed in practice, but as-'suchmearns are commonly usedwith cables,r chainsv or the like, it is considered to be unnecessary to" de-V scribe the same in detail herein." V

The terminal Q20 of t'he lower spiral, C20' is formed with an offset portion whichpro# vides a seat 021 for the lower end of the bridging; member E20 when thel latter-is ar-. ranged to connect-the spiral D00 with the 100 spiral C20, this seat forming a desirableA means which, however, may be varied-by which the bridging member is stopped in proper position'with relation't'o' the spirall C20and is held against falling'when a pack- 105 age is passing thereover to the spira'l'C. Means are also ,provided for stopping the bridging member in propeiposition wi'tlizrelation to the spiral B20 andfor holding` it against falling when a packageis kpassing 116` thereover to the latterv spiral: The latter means should be of a nature such' that it may be operated tov release the bridging member from any of the ioorsr from which 'the bridging'member may be operated'. tfa'lso 115 should be operable somewhat in advance ofv the lowering of the bridging member and furthermore, preferably, should be' of a nan ture such that' it automatically holds' the bridging member when the latter i's1raised120*y into operative relation with the spiral B20. Means having these characteristics, which I prefer, comprise a latchy which includes a casing-70 connectedto the'endofthe bridg-v ingk member by'la pin 7l,A or other' suitable 125' element, the said pin extendingv through an arcuate slot72 vinthecasing F20 `and being connectedby a iexiblejsupport 73.' with a rod 57a`wh`ich forms a section .of the strand' V 57i-or the eine The aan 'aise 'includere 130.

Vcal portion 76. p Vpressed yiel'dably in engagement with' the bolt 74`which projects Vat both'ends from-the vcasing'70. T he rod 57a has a member (hereinafter called bolt act i` iator) which' comprises a'conicalfportion- 75 and a cylindri- One end ofthe bolt 74 is boltactuator by a spring 77 andv its" other endl engages-,a detent -78 which is "pivoted at 79 tothe casingF20. f'

It 'will-be seen that v when thejbridging `member E20jis in its raised' po'sitionlits lower V"end 1s held against movement under the weight of a package passing thereover by the engagement of the'bolt 74 with the de- Vtent 78.A The correlation ofthe bolt and b'olt actuator -in this'position of the parts is shown in Figfg.v Vhen it isdesired to lower the bridging member to connect the spiral D20 tothe spiral C20, the cable isopmined by the slack which has beenfgivenfthe ieXible member 7 in thedownward movement of the strandl 57 and when'this'sfl'ac'k is taken' up bythe falling of the bridging vmember the latter may be 'lowered 'quietly toits seatvby further downward movement of the 'strand57- The 'y correlation ofthe bolt actuatorv and bolt whenthe bridging member'is'in its lowered position, in operativ'e Vrelation with the second spiral, C20, is shown in Fig. '4. i In order to raise-.the bridging` member' into operative Vrelation with the iirst spiral, B20', movement is given theV cable ina direction which causes the strand 57 to travel upward. -This upward travel of the strand 57 raisesthe'bridging member andthe bolt actuator together, the

'bolt near the end of its upward travel enend of the latter backwards()` as to pass above itsV hook end.A Vhen the bolt,4 and consequently the bridging member have reached their uppermost position, the bolt being above the plane of the hook endv 'of the detent, this detent' moves with itsI hook end forward, byv gravity-or :by "spring pressure, if desired-and engagesunder the protruding end of' the `bolt.v The-,upward movement of the bridgingmemberis limited bv lthe' length of the slot 72 and after the bridging element E20 has been raised vto its upward limitfof movement itmay be gradually eased down by the manipulation ofAv the strand 57 topermit the bolt74to engage with detent 78 as before set'forth.

' It will be understood that the v*spirals-B20 `'intended tof'be-V discharged rat different vby the vmere adjustment orv the bridging vmeans and itwill be-'n'oted furth'erthat'the places, or-for-` packages of differentl characters and that these spirals, as well as" the spirals D20,"maysexten"d through-'any number ofgl'oors' ina building. i

- Italso'willbe noted-that the correlationl of thel spiralsandy adjustable 4bridging vmeans in each ofthe'particu'larembodiments of the invention vherein'described' is' such that packages are delivered from the third spiral to the first spiral *orV second spiral, atgwill,

correlationof the parts isfsu'ch that' the Vdelivery lof the packages' between the third lspiral and theotherfspirals is a direct one,

the adjustable rswitching*n'uember in none of the hereinjexempliliedrforms Yofthe invention serving to carry the packages'. to dischargei Iopenings in the casing or awayy from the conveyer, orto other lconveying mechaj' V"Againyit will' be noted that-whilertheconveyer has vbeen described with referencefto the use of theithird'spiral as a means-for feeding packages to the lirst andiy second spirals, it will not be a departure `from-the spirit-ofthe inventio'nto reverse'this relative arrangement of the spirals, that is to lsay,.tocorrelate-theparts in either of the embodiments *herein exem-pliiied so that Apackages will be fed bythe -iirst'and second spirals to lthe? third spiral. 'It will further be noted that, while the conveyer has been leiien'iplied vas extending. through the floors of `a building, 4itmay be arranged outside of the building. -fThese-.and other changesk in the exemplified; construction-and arrangement= of partsare contemplated to-beiwithin the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the Vsubj'oined 'claimswv f 7 i v Y v Having .now described the-invention what I believe to be new and desire to secure LettersPatent,isa;A fr i 1.,A-confveyer comprising al first spiral way-and a secondl spiralway ,disposedat a -common lportion' of the conveyer and having their corresponding terminals qindifferent horizontal planes, a third spiral way arranged at another .partei the `conveyer and having` its terminal spaced fromy said Aterminals: of: the .first and secondvr wfays,; and. an

adjustable member for bridging wthesp'ace betweefn'the ythird spiral way` and either of the other spiral ways, at will, sa'i'd'member v-being''pivotediat one end 'vin proXimityQ-to;v the terminalk of the'thirdfway -and ybeing ar- -`ranged So that i'tsother fend may be `operativelyxrelated toffthe terminals of. the other ways, alternately.

' 221A@ conveyerecomprisinga; irst Aspiral -wayand a secondspiral way arranged at acommon portion fof-theivconveyer, athird spiral v,lway disposed at ,af differentl I portion of ytheuconv'eyen with its vertical axis ink a y' axes ofY the first and secondways, and a -n'iernberA adapted to connect the third way lwith either `of the other Ways,y said member having one of itsends -pivoted adjacent [to the third way and being movable from vits said end to substantially aline its other end withl Veither of; the otherways. Y

3. A conveyercomprising 'an internal supporting means having a pluralitj7 of sections arranged Vat different levels and in different .vertical planesa `a plurality of Yways extending 'spirailly about one of said sections, a .way extending spirally about-the other lseot-ion with a space betweenl its ends and the ends ,of 'the Einst-mentioned ways, and a bridging member. one of whose ends ,isy pivoted inn-proximity to said separate way and the Aotheiyo Whose 'ends is movable into substantial alignement from one to the other lof the Itirst-mentioned ways.

4:. A conveyer comprising a iirst spiral wayand a second spiral way' arranged at a common part of the conveyer, a gt-hird Spiral way arranged at anotherpart of the conveyer and yhavingits terminal spaced lfrom 4the terminals of the first and second spiral ways. Ia member bridging the space` between the'third spiral way and either vof the other f ways, at will, said member being fulcrumed fat onerend adjacent to "the terminal "of the thirds'piral Way, and means operable from 'dider'ent point-s to adjust the bridging member.

'5.' A 'conveyer comprising a iirst spiral `way andla second spiral Way arranged at a 'common .portion of the conveyer and having their "corresponding terminals in different horizontal planes, a third spiral way varranged at another part of the c'onveyer and having its terminal spaced from said terminals of the firstland second spiral ways, a -member bridging the space between the third spiral way and either of the other spiiralwvays, at will, said vmember being fulcrumedupona horizontal axis adjacent to `th@ terminal ofthe-third spiral wayVmeans ffor'adjusting said member and means con- Vtrolledby'the adjusting means 'for locking :it 2in its raised position.

"lncombinlation, a pair of spiral ways, `a third 'spiral Way-'terminating in spaced relation tothe upper ends of the first named `ivays, a lbridging element mounted tovmove rto establish communication between ythe Vthird spiral way and either of lthe* first vnamed Aways, an `adjusting means for shiftingea-id bridging element and a lock for holding* the bridging element in one of its bridging positions.

'7'. Inf-combination, apairfotspiral ways,

a thirdfspiral way terminating in spaced' relation tothe upper 'fendsf yof the firstvnamed ways; a E bridging element mounted" to f YAmove toj 'establish `commun-ication `-between; rthe Sinin-i spiral yiwal-y @and eitherwff-thefrst voperative relation to the Ylowerend ofthe Idetent and manually operable means `for named. Ways, e lOQk rifloilllted t0 mOYebOdly with the bridgingelement, a detent with which the lock eng-ages to hold thebrid-ging element in 'one of its bridging positions, an adjusting means for shifting the kbridging element, and means carried bythe adjusting means for controllingl the lock. I.

8. 'In combination, a pair ofspiral ways, a third spiral way terminating in spaced relation to fthe-upper ends 'of lthe VtirSt named ways, a bridging` element mounted to move to establish communication between #the third spiral way and either of vthe lirst named Ways, a lock comprising a bolt, oarried by the bridging'element, a' detent for engaging the lbolt to hold ythe bridging .element in an elevated position, 'a spring normally tending to release the bolt, an adjusting inieans for the 4bridging element Yand means controlled by the adjusting means for moving the bolt against the ltension fof the spring. Y

9. A conveyer comprising a .pair of spiralk Ways,V the helices of one Aspiral way alternatinjg with the helices of the other and the upper vends of the ways terminating 'in dii'- ferent horizontal planes, a thirdspiralway odset laterally from the two iirst fnamed ways, a bridging element having permanent lastnamed Way 'and movable into operative relation With either-otl theiirst named ways,

means for supporting the'fbridging element when it is loweredinto alinement with'one of the first named Ways .and a :releasable locking means for holding the bridging eleinent in an, elevated position-and 1n alinement-with-the` other `oit' the first named Ways.

l0. A convey-er comprising a pair of spiral Ways, ya .third spiral Way terminating in spaced Vrelation to the upper yends yof the vfirst named spiral ways, a bridging element mounted to move to f establish connection between the third spiral way and either of the lirst named Ways, a lock mounted Vto move bodily with the bridging element and comprising-a bolt, a swinging detent with which the bolt engages, spring means normally" tending Vto rsleasethe bolt fronithe forcing the bolt tow-ardthe detent against thetension of said spring.

11. A conveyer comprising axplurality of spiral-ways having ra common vertical axis vand hav-ing their corresponding ends in difyferent lhorizontal planes, a separat-espiral -way whose vertical axis 1s offset from that ofthe-first mentioned ways, a bridging element lone of whoseends is pivoted in proximity'to the end of said separate spiralway,

' said bridging.y element being movable `upon al horizontal" axis: to aline its otherV end'.v substantially vwith the .ends of the-.-irs t mentionedffspral' aways, respectively,gtnaeans ranged outsideyoand ertlllingalslgiigf;

dinally of the conveyer and operable at different places in its length to` adjust the bridging element, and means for holding the bridging element in operative relation Withthe respective first mentioned spiral Way.

12. A conveyer comprising a plurality of spiral Ways having a common vertical axis and having their corresponding ends in different horizontal planes, a separate spiral Way Whose vertical axis is offset from that of the first mentioned ways, a bridging element one of Whose ends is pivoted in proximity to the end oit' said separate spiral Way, A

said bridging element being movable upon a horizontal axis to aline its other end substantially with the ends of the first mentioned spiral Ways, respectively, a locking member carried by the bridging element, means for adjusting the bridging element, a iexble connection between the adjusting means and locking member, and elements cooperating with the adjusting means and locking member for securing and releasing the bridging element.

13. A conveyer comprising an internal supporting means, a first spiral and a second spiral extending around one part of said means and terminating respectively in different horizontal planes, a third spiral extending around another part of the internal supporting means and having its terminal spaced from the terminals of the first and second spirals, an adjustable member for bridging the space between the third spiral and either of the other spirals, at will, said member being pivoted at one end in proximity to the terminal of the third spiral and being arranged so that its other end may be operatively related to the terminals of the other spirals, alternately, means operable to raise and lower the bridging member, and mechanism for locking the bridging member in its raised position, the locking mechanism including a spring-pressed bolt, a Vflexible connection between the bolt land the raising and lowering means, a bolt actuator connected with the raising and lowering means, and a detent to engage the bolt when the bridging member is in its raised position. y

Y 14. A conveyer comprising an internal supporting means having two portions which are out of line With each other, an outer casing having portions which respectively encircle said portions -of the internal sup-- porting member and are spaced therefrom, a pair of Ways extending spirally around one of said portions of the internal supporting means, a third Way extending spirally around the other of said portions of the y internal supporting means, said Ways being encircled bythe casing, a bridging member to connect the third Way with veither ofthe other Ways, said member being arranged in the casing and having one of its ends pivoted adjacent to the third Way and being movable from its said end to aline its other end With either of the other Ways, and means extending from said member and along the outside of the.` casing for adjusting said member from various points in the height of the conveyer. Y

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- MORRIS U. BERNHEIM.

Witnesses JAMES'L. CRAWFORD, C. J. S'rocxMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

